Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

In his 2016 campaign, the President elect Nana Akuffo Addo promised the people of the Western Region the creation of a new region to be known as the Western North. The new region is to facilitate economic development, create jobs, and to ensure equity in development.  The present Western Region with its capital in Sekond-Takoradi along the coast creates administrative lapses because it is one region that traveling from the northern part to the capital takes several hours than any other Region in Ghana. This makes it extremely very difficult for journalists for instance in Sekondi to provide adequate coverage to communities stretching from Asankragua, Wiawso, Bibiani-Anwhiaso-Bekwai, Akontombra ,Juaboso, and Osei Kojokrom. It is therefore no wonder that events in such communities are rather covered by media houses in the Ashanti Region because of their proximity to the region. It is a fact that, the Western Region leads in almost all natural resources that keep the country gong from...

The Harmattan is a dry and dusty northeastern trade wind which blows from the Sahara Desert over the West African subcontinent into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March. On its passage over the Sahara, it picks up fine dust and sand particles. The Harmattan is characterised by cold, dry, dust-laden wind and also wide fluctuations in the temperatures of the day and night. Temperatures can be as low as 9 degrees Celsius a day, but sometimes in the afternoon it can soar as high as 30 degrees Celsius, while the relative humidity drops under 10 percent. The Harmattan wind increases the risk of fire outbreaks which cause severe crop damage especially, in farming communities. The interaction of the Harmattan with monsoon winds can cause Harmattan haze. In some countries in West Africa, the heavy amounts of dust in the air severely limit visibility and block the sun for several days. Studies have shown that health humidity drops as low as 15 percent, which can...

Ghana once again faced a tragic moment in its history when gas exploded at a filling station near the Trade Fair Centre, leaving scores of persons’ dead and others with degrees of burns. Reports have it that there were six dead and about twelve injured in the accident that took place around 6 p.m. on Thursday at Louis Gas Station at Labadi in Accra. Property running into thousands of Cedis have been lost to the fire. It is unfortunate that, with just a couple of days to Christmas and the relief from election tension that engulfed the nation during the election period, the nation has to go through such an agonizing moment. Messages of condolence and sympathy have come from the President, President-elect, other personalities and identifiable groups to the families and victims of the incident. The incident once again brings to the fore the amount of precautionary measures put in place to forestall the occurrence of such incidents. The nation has laws that govern the siting of fuel and gas...

Christmas is here again with its attendant’s security and safety issues. It is therefore important that the state and individuals put in place comprehensive security plans to ensure that the season is observed without mishap to life and property. As part of its security arrangements, the Ghana Police Service has put on its calendar what it has christened Operation Father Christmas. It is a special exercise designed to offer enhanced protection to the public from the activities of criminals and law breakers in general. It is also a confidence building measure to assure members of the public of their safety and security. It is an undeniable fact that during festive occasions there is an increase in the movement of persons and goods across the country. This situation unfortunately makes it easy for criminals to commit acts which include stealing, shop lifting, pick pocketing, robberies, assault and sexual offences. Again, it is on such occasion that commercial drivers desire to make unrea...

Ghanaians have once again demonstrated their democratic maturity by going through a successful election. At the end, the opposition candidate defeated the incumbent President. This invariably calls for a transfer of power from the current administration to a new one from an opposition party. Thankfully, unlike what is happening in the Gambia, President John Mahama has gracefully conceded defeat, congratulated his opponent and expressed his willingness to hand over power peacefully. In accordance with the Presidential Transition Act 2012 , Act 845, both the out-going and in-coming administrations must constitute a Joint Transition Team, to be co-chaired by the incumbent President and the President-Elect. The Joint Transition Team is to among other things, ensure smooth transfer of power. In so doing, the team is to take stock of state assets and also receive handing over notes from Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The Joint Transition Team has since commenced its business. However ...

Barely a few hours after the declaration of results of this year's Presidential and Parliamentary elections, jubilant youth believed to be NPP sympathizers as, are reported to be have resorted to destruction of public property, a situation that has been condemned by the NPP, NDC and the police. One such incident is the setting ablaze of a toll booth at Fiapre near Sunyani. Fortunately the police have arrested the Fiapre suspect, put him before court and is now on bail and is expected back in court on the 23rd of this month. In other areas, cars, billboards, posters and other property are reportedly being destroyed. All these are happening despite the call on supporters to be moderate in their celebrations and refrain from acts that are likely to disturb the current peace the nation is enjoying. Reports of violent attacks visited members of the loosing parties started soon after the country entered into a constitutional rule. It is becoming alarming that anytime that there is a chan...

Ghanaians have once again demonstrated to the entire world Ghana's impeccable democratic credentials. Last Wednesday, the nation went to the polls in what was expected to be a keenly contested general election. At the end, the main opposition leader, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo of the New Patriotic Party, was overwhelmingly endorsed by the electorate to steer the affairs of this country for the next four years. This is the first time in Ghana's political history that a sitting president lost an election. The beauty of it was that even before the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, declared the results, the defeated incumbent president, John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress, called his opponent, congratulated him and conceded defeat. There is no doubt that the road leading to this historic moment has not been smooth sailing. The process was characterised by tensions, acrimony, accusations and counter accusations and suspicions. Of course, every election is a hard ...

After the many controversies and uncertainties, the 2016 Presidential and Parliamentary elections came off successfully last Wednesday. Apart from the Jaman North constituency, where the election could not be held on the 7th due to some hitches, the elections went on largely smoothly in the remaining 274 constituencies nationwide. Both local and international observer groups have praised Ghana's Electoral Commission, the security services, the media and the good people of Ghana for a good job done. But, it is all not over yet. The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, who by law is the Returning Officer for the Presidential Election, is yet to declare the final result and pronounce on who the winner is. It must also be noted that, by constitutional provisions, a person can only be declared an outright winner if he or she garners at least 50 percent plus one of the total valid ballots cast in the election. In a situation where, none was able to meet the mark, the EC is enjoined t...